Air Force and Army Reservists take on Canadian hockey great for charity

The Third Annual Cassie Campbell Street Hockey Festival took place at the Olympic Oval in May and raised $200,000 for Ronald McDonald House.

Canadian Air Force personnel went stick to stick against Canadian Olympic hockey gold medallist Cassie Campbell in a fun-filled game of street hockey to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta.

The Third Annual Cassie Campbell Street Hockey Festival took place at the Olympic Oval in May and raised $200,000 for this very special cause.  Ronald McDonald House provides shelter and support for children and their families, while the children undergo cancer treatment at the Calgary Medical Centre.  Funding is particularly crucial this year, as a new Ronald McDonald House is under construction and due for completion in the fall of this year.

Air Force and Army Reservists played in the festival last year, however, with the Canadian Forces (CF) engaged in such a large-scale recruiting effort under Operation Connection, their participation grew even greater this year, thanks in large part to the efforts of Major John Lalonde, Deputy Air Reserve Coordinator (West), who was the driving force behind the increase in participation.  Maj Lalonde got to know the hockey legend quite well in December 2003 when he escorted Campbell and two former NHL players to visit the troops in Bosnia, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

Several CF members participated in the game and the Canadian Forces display: the Air Force was represented by Maj Lalonde, Master Warrant Officer Jean Birnie (A1 Reserve Recruiting 2-2 at 1 Canadian Air Division Winnipeg) and Warrant Officer Patricia MacWilliams (Training and Recruiting Warrant Officer at 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton). 

Both the Air Force and the Army had pop-up displays and numerous souvenirs and give-away items for visitors.  In addition, the Army had a G-wagon on static display, as well as a weapons display that was a hit with the crowd. 

A number of military personnel pitched in to set up for the festival, many of whom volunteered during their free time to do so.

Maj Lalonde’s skills as referee were put to the test as he refereed a number of games, as well as the celebrity game that pitted Campbell and some of her Team Canada teammates and local celebrities against a number of former NHL players, such as Jim Peplinkski and Brian Skrudland to name two.

Campbell made a point of visiting the Canadian Forces display and met with all the support personnel.  Opportunities such as Cassie Campbell’s Street Hockey Festival are great ways for the military to wave the flag, recruit and assist worthwhile causes within our communities, in a way that we all end up winners.  

The above story was submitted by Major John Lalonde, Deputy Air Reserve Coordinator (West).